Fraternity Grows Mustaches For Men’s Health

“It’s an effort to raise awareness for men’s
health, specifically testicular and prostate cancer,” said Alex
Baquero-Lima ‘11, community service chairman for the fraternity.

Mo,
which is slang for mustache, combines with November to form “Movember,”
the name of this international movement which the Delta Tau Delta
national headquarters promotes.

Movember was started in 2003 in
Melbourne, Australia. Men start the month off clean-shaven and compete
for “best mustache” at the end of the 30 days. Along the way, their
facial hair acts as catalyst for conversation – and a symbol like the
breast cancer pink ribbon - about a serious issue, one that men often
don’t talk about, Baquero-Lima said.

Prostate cancer strikes one
in six men and is the most common non-skin cancer in America, according
to the Prostate Cancer Foundation. Baquero-Lima said this was the first
year his fraternity participated in Movember, raising $100 through
alumni donations for the American Cancer Society. He said they plan to
grow the event each year, adding more education and participation of
other UT organizations.

Movember marks just one of the
fraternity’s community outreaches. It’s been part of a year-long effort
of transitioning from a colony, which was formed in Fall 2007, to
receiving its full charter as a fraternity. On Dec. 5, the fraternity
will celebrate with a banquet its official charter as the Iota Lambda
chapter of Delta Tau Delta.

“It’s just great,” Baquero-Lima said. “We’re all so excited to be founding fathers.”